How to Improve SAM Maturity: Real Examples from Utility and Insurance Sectors

The Situation: The organization had previously conducted ITAM/SAM maturity assessments, but the resulting reports were lengthy, overly technical, and difficult to translate into actionable steps. These assessments often felt like reading a dull crime novel rather than a practical business case, creating apprehension toward future evaluations.

The Task: The goal was to evaluate the organization’s maturity in a way that was clear, practical, and cost-effective—without requiring extensive consultant involvement or overwhelming internal teams.

The Action: The organization adopted Rory Canavan’s SAM Maturity Assessment. This framework-agnostic approach used a structured questionnaire with 10 sections and 10 questions per section. It was designed to uncover granular insights without complexity, encouraging honesty to ensure accurate maturity levels were captured.

Source: SAM Charter – A Ringing Endorsement

The Situation: Managing an estate of 5,000 devices, this firm faced significant challenges. Contractors were using corporate equipment, and SAP was deeply entrenched. Despite having Snow License Manager, the SAM team felt the tool was ineffective and considered a costly replacement. Efforts were narrowly focused on compliance reporting (ELPs) rather than broader improvements.

The Task: The organization needed to improve its SAM maturity and establish a structured approach to asset management without resorting to costly technology replacements.

The Action: SAM Charter engaged in a 45-day program that included a SAM Process Maturity Assessment. They delivered a comprehensive roadmap featuring an ITAM Policy Document, 15 customized process maps, and a RACI chart. The team was coached to shift focus from ELP generation to monitoring IT estate health.

Source: SAM Charter – Best Use Case

The Situation: Grown through multiple acquisitions, this organization had a federated structure with subsidiaries ranging from boutique firms to large construction companies. Each managed IT assets independently, leading to inconsistent practices and significant risks regarding compliance, security, and cost control.

The Task: The CIO and CISO required a way to benchmark ITAM maturity across all subsidiaries to identify gaps and build a standardized approach, while still respecting the unique business needs of the subsidiaries.

The Action: Each subsidiary completed an ITAM Accelerate Maturity Assessment. The results were visualized in a heatmap showing maturity levels and risk areas. This data informed the development of a federated ITAM framework and an assurance model for ongoing risk assessment.

Source: ITAM Intelligence Success Stories